"M. H. Greaves" wrote:

If the a/c had a chin turret, the bombardier used this but wouldnt be able
to if he was on the bomb run, they were controlled via a yoke that could
swing out of the way when he needed to be concentating on the bombsight..

Sure, but on the bomb run the fighters tended to be noticeably absent, not
wishing to be shot down by their own flak. And most bombardiers from 1943 on
served as "Toggliers" (I've always thought this should be "toggeliers"),
dropping on the lead. There were typically only four Nordens in a whole heavy
bomber group formation: group lead, deputy lead, and the high and low squadron
leads (the last three in case the group lead a/c was shot down or otherwise
unable to do his job). By 1944, at least in the 8th, they often trained a
gunner as togglier to drop the bombs in the non-lead a/c, or occasionally the
nav would do so if no bombardier was aboard.

Guy